As discussed in the other thread, demand for travel to and from Exeter is quite high so it would seem quite reasonable that the best service possible is maintained to get people to and from Exeter. People wanting to use XC from Exeter would have a bus journey even if XC were running to Taunton so running buses through to Bristol isn't making it significantly more inconvenient for passengers from Exeter.
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Flooding and Weather Disruption (Nov 2012)
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But under the circumstances an hourly service *is* very good. And it's not as if there is no demand for travel beyond Exeter, is it? A Northbound HST or Voyager doesn't empty once it reaches Exeter
I should perhaps declare my interest - I have a ticket for a journey to Bath on Saturday...
With all due respect, it matters not whether you buy it or not! That's the reality of the situation for XC! Alas, your assumption is incorrect - somebody diagrammed to work say the 07:12 this morning off Brum may well have returned from Bristol straight away covering for a Plymouth man who should be working to Brum at the same time. Later, he may well return to Bristol covering for the same Plymouth man, then work his own train back to Brum.
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Teehee, perhaps you should change it to a ticket to Brum, then take a walk up to XC Control to tell them what they should be doing?
O L Leigh
Established Member
Frankly you're all guessing what the link structure, route knowledge and driver diagramming is at XC (or anywhere else, for that matter), so claiming confidently that this or that is possible is pointless.
O L Leigh
O L Leigh
O L Leigh
Established Member
Then presumably you will also be aware that Taunton was not the only place on the XC network affected by the weather yesterday.
O L Leigh
O L Leigh
Stop letting fact get in the way of our ranting
Ha! Terrible when that happens!
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I am! Just about the only problem today though, but an 80mph restriction for electric traction on the northern ECML imposed this evening will be creating a few issues by now.
O L Leigh
Established Member
Nothing about the fallen tree at Kingsbury earlier today, then...?
O L Leigh
O L Leigh
That didn't seem to cause too much of a problem as far as I was aware. Nothing diverted via Lich as far as I know.
O L Leigh
Established Member
Lots of reasons for that.
O L Leigh
O L Leigh
The fact that the Castle Cary and Langport line is blocked doesn't make the situation too bad for XC passengers from Taunton as FGW are running an hourly Taunton to Paddington service calling at Bristol Temple Meads so no need to use the bus from Taunton to Bristol. That said, I'm not quite sure where you would stand if you had an advance ticket say from Taunton to Birmingham. Would you be required to use the XC bus to Bristol?
Also, isn't it the case that although Plymouth crew sign all the way to Birmingham, Birmingham crew do not sign south of Bristol and so only Bristol crew could work through to Taunton?
I decided to brave the weather and go to Glasgow today, on arriving at Kilmarnock station this afternoon there was - lets just say a full compliment of trains awaiting their turn. All 4 platforms had all Scotland's Trains livery, it looked quiet impressive to be honest.
Due to flooding between Kilmarnock and Dumfries no trains were operating from Kilmarnock to Dumfries. Even tonight when I arrived back in Kilmarnock only platform 1 had no train.
Still as it was milligans coaches of mauchline operating the bustitution with their swanky new coach I can't imagine the passengers suffering to much.
Due to flooding between Kilmarnock and Dumfries no trains were operating from Kilmarnock to Dumfries. Even tonight when I arrived back in Kilmarnock only platform 1 had no train.
Still as it was milligans coaches of mauchline operating the bustitution with their swanky new coach I can't imagine the passengers suffering to much.
Which goes back to my earlier point. Where is all this information? Thats great news - but on the NRES disruption site it makes no mention of an hourly Taunton to London via Bristol service and the journey planner just says everything is cancelled.
At a guess, these are London-Bristol trains extended through to Taunton......and NRES haven't picked up on that fact.:roll: :roll: Not good.
The FGW website has some quite detailed information.
D1009
Established Member
My impression from the NRES website was that only the up line between Castle Cary and Taunton was blocked. Rather than put in SLW, the plan was an hourly service in the westbound direction direction only via Castle Cary, and these trains returned to London via Bristol. So as far as XC passengers were concerned it was much better going north than south. I haven't checked what actually happened, though.
What are the arrangements for XC passengers heading South? I was to use the 21:44 from Bristol Temple Meads.
I wonder what time the last down train from Westbury is likely to be and whether you can connect into it from a Cardiff to Portsmouth Harbour service?
I wonder what time the last down train from Westbury is likely to be and whether you can connect into it from a Cardiff to Portsmouth Harbour service?
D1009
Established Member
If you are referring to tonight, XC are running a bus at 2151 from Bristol to Exeter. The last train from Westbury to Taunton is at 2157, to make this from Bristol you would have to catch the last Weymouth service off Temple Meads at 2049.
No, I was reffering to Saturday but thats useful information all the same. Would that bus connect into anything to Plymouth? Whats the best source of information like that as I can't get NRES to provide me with any details on bus timings.
NRES are continuning to handle this in a comical fashion. Latest tweet:
Using the journey planner the changes are:
a) Every single XC is listed as cancelled with no alternative and no bus times
b) Every FGW London service is listed as running as normal including stops at Tiverton Parkway, all to normal timings.
Useful
NRES are continuning to handle this in a comical fashion. Latest tweet:
Using the journey planner the changes are:
a) Every single XC is listed as cancelled with no alternative and no bus times
b) Every FGW London service is listed as running as normal including stops at Tiverton Parkway, all to normal timings.
Useful
If you are going to Taunton there's a local FGW service at 2156. If not then there's a bus showing as leaving Bristol at 2145 for Exeter.
D1009
Established Member
In a word, no as the bus doesn't arrive Exeter until 2356, but provided you held a ticket I would expect alternative transport to be provided.
Hmm, I'm nervous to rely on that. I hold a ticket and have done since before the disruption and I was relying on the last train to get back
Rich McLean
Established Member
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Hmm, I'm nervous to rely on that. I hold a ticket and have done since before the disruption and I was relying on the last train to get back
They would more than likely pay for a taxi, or offer to put you up in a hotel for the night, in order to get the first train of the day to Plymouth tomorrow
Nothing was provided for me in 2002 when they cancelled the last train from Newton Abbot back to Taunton due to severe weather earlier in the day. Hopefully things have changed since then.
The stakes seem quite high given worst case scenario is a night on a platform (Well, a taxi at my cost would be more likely than that). I've got a few days yet so perhaps everything will be a bit more clear soon.
Exeter is staffed throughout the night so I'm not sure they'd even let you stay on the platform.
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